Innovation

💻 Heather Balsley, IHG's Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, discusses the company's strategy to make hotel content AI-readable at the Skift Global Forum from September 22–24, 2026, in New York. IHG is launching a platform this year to improve content structure for AI recommendations. The focus is on personalized loyalty programs as AI tools influence traveler decisions. The forum also features executives from Booking Holdings and Expedia Group.

🚀 RateGain Travel Technologies Limited was named the Fastest Growing SaaS Company at the ET Enterprise AI Awards 2026 on September 18, 2026, in India. The company collaborates with 33 of the top 40 hotel chains, 4 of the top 5 airlines, and 7 of the top 10 car rental firms, processing over 231 billion availability, rate, and inventory data annually. Founded in 2004, RateGain serves 14,000+ customers and 700+ partners across 160+ countries.

🏖 [Dallas, 17 September 2026] – Calistoga Spa Hot Springs in Napa Valley, California, partnered with Mews, a hospitality operating system, after 20+ years on a different platform. The resort, operated by the same owners since the 1960s, boasts four geothermal pools and volcanic ash mud baths. With 57 rooms, they've adopted Mews PMS and RMS, and plan to integrate Mews Guest Messaging. Around 50% of guests now check in online, streamlining the arrival process.

📈 In April 2026, analysis of 268 queries for 200 brands revealed a striking trend: 52% of brands were absent from their category's AI search results. The top three brands dominated with 78% visibility. Similarly, Geonimo found that the top 10% of brands captured 68% of mentions. With AI, ranking 3rd instead of 4th is crucial, as lower ranks miss exposure. Focus on key buyer questions instead of broad category terms to gain AI visibility.

🏖 57 minutes ago, GCSTIMES explored the integration of longevity in hospitality. Hotels like Novotel use methods such as yoga and hikes to promote health. Emphasizing movement, the industry is encouraged to use local streets, trails, and cities as wellness environments. Innovative key cards can inspire guests to engage physically with destinations. Since 2011, GCSTIMES has led in sustainable smart card innovation, with brands like GCS and AUROkeys promoting wellness and sustainability in tourism.

💵 Hospitable launched a new split payments capability for property managers, facilitating revenue sharing on Vrbo and direct bookings. Available since September 2026, this tool simplifies revenue division at check-in, eliminating manual processes. Previously, only Airbnb supported such payments. Split Payouts work through Hospitable's Mogul plan with US bank accounts, expanding to the UK soon. CEO Pierre-Camille Hamana highlighted its efficiency for professional property managers using multiple distribution channels.

📰 CollabsMap connects travel creators with businesses through an innovative marketplace model. Videreo's journey revealed a broken creator-to-booking chain, where demand is created but not captured by creators, as highlighted in Rafat Ali's Skift article. AI trends show 28% of US leisure travelers start planning with AI, but only 5% book as suggested. TSA's AI agent saves over 11,660 staff hours and $11 million in labor value annually. GetYourGuide's Creator Review increases booking likelihood threefold.

🏨 Maverick Hotels & Restaurants, led by CEO Robert Habeeb, operates 50 hotels and supports the shift to AI-driven booking systems. Marriott International's CEO, Anthony Capuano, notes AI's impact on travel booking. Tambourine's new platform, Tambourine One, doubles desktop and nearly triples mobile conversion rates across 50 hotels. Aven Hospitality's new booking engine increased revenue by over 30% in one month for Navarino Services. Oracle Hospitality's OPERA Cloud engine integrates rates and inventory data, targeting independent hotels.

📈 Loyalty demand share in U.S. hotel room bookings reached 58% in the first half of 2026, up from 51% in 2019, with Brand.com bookings at 29%. Loyalty member rate bookings rose 19% year-over-year by early July. Total room night demand increased by 2%, and average daily rates climbed 6% through July. OTA and government bookings rose 2%, corporate bookings 1%, while rack/BAR rates fell 5%, and group bookings decreased 2%.

📈 Inn-Flow, a Raleigh-based company, unveiled new integrations between its Accounting and Procurement solutions. These enhancements enable hotels to incorporate budgets, forecasts, and actual spending into purchasing workflows. The system uses AI to optimize purchasing decisions, ensuring informed buying before financial commitments are made. The process includes features like AI Cart Optimizer, inventory management, and invoice matching, providing a comprehensive financial overview and supporting profitability.